Meb Keflezighi, of the United States, leads Josphat Boit, also from the United States, passed Wellesley College during the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Wellesley. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

Meb Keflezighi, of the United States, leads Josphat Boit, also from the United States, passed Wellesley College during the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Wellesley. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

A race fan waves the American flag and a banner bearing the slogan “Boston Strong” as runners compete in the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Hopkinton, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Race fans line the course near the start line of the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Hopkinton, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Runners in the first wave of 9,000 cross the start line of the 118th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2014 in Hopkinton, Mass. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

HOW HEARTBREAK GOT ITS NAME: Heartbreak Hill, the pinnacle of a series of hills that stretch about 4 miles through Newton, lives up to its name. After 16 mostly hilly miles, sore and tired thighs must now propel a racer up, up, up. It sure gets the heart pumping and can drain the best runner.

But it wasn’t a physical blow that gave it its name.

During the 1936 race, hometown hero Johnny Kelley was looking for a repeat when he tangled with Ellison “Tarzan” Brown. Catching the Rhode Island phenom in the hills, Kelley patted his rival on the shoulder as he passed him on the final climb. But instead of discouraging Brown, it fired him up, and he passed Kelley. By the time they sailed past Boston College, Kelley was done. Boston Globe sportswriter Jerry Nason the next day described the defeat as “breaking Kelley’s heart.”

â€” Rik Stevens â€” https://twitter.com/RikStevensAP

___

LIVE FROM THE COURSE: Bill Kole, AP’s New England bureau chief, is running the race â€” and tweeting from every mile.

“Mile 7: Helicopters are thundering overhead, but runners are gazing resolutely at the long ribbon of asphalt ahead.”

â€” Bill Kole â€” https://twitter.com/billkole

___

SECURE AREA: For all the talk of enhanced security, there were no metal detectors at some security checkpoints around the finish line Monday morning, nor were security guards patting down people or checking their pockets as they entered the secured area around where last year’s bombing took place.

Such pat downs are common at large gatherings such as professional sporting events or concerts.

Security guards along the finish line focused instead on those carrying bags, which were searched before people were allowed to enter the fenced perimeter.

â€” Steve Peoples â€” https://twitter.com/sppeoples

___

SCREAM TUNNEL: As waves of runners pass by, the noise from Wellesley College students has escalated and fans are going wild, rattling cowbells. One holds a sign that has a slot for a young woman’s face, calling it a “kissing booth.” Freshman Ashley De La Russo wipes sweat off her face after getting a big smooch from one runner who she says was pretty cute. “The energy here is amazing,” said De La Russo, from Orlando, Fla. “I knew it was going to be a scream tunnel, but this is just unbelievable.”

WAVING FLAGS: Carlos Arredondo and his wife, Melida, are standing in the viewing stands just past the finish line waving small American flags. Arredondo was wearing his trademark cowboy hat and a Boston Strong shirt.

The two were at last year’s race, handing out flags, when the bombs went off.

Arredondo quickly ran to the aid of Jeff Bauman and helped rush him in a wheelchair to medical attention, a scene captured in an arresting AP photo. Bauman lost his legs.

â€” Michelle R. Smith â€” www.twitter.com/MRSmithAP

___

PLAY BALL: The local baseball team has its traditional Patriots Day morning start time Monday. Instead of wearing “Red Sox” across the chests of their home uniforms, the players’ jerseys read “Boston,” just as they did for the tribute to bombing victims at Fenway Park last April 20.

The reigning world champs host the Baltimore Orioles with the first pitch at 11:05 a.m.

___

US CHAMP: American Tatyana McFadden won the women’s wheelchair race for the second straight year. McFadden celebrated her 25th birthday Monday.

McFadden was born in Russia and lived in an orphanage as a child.

â€” Pat Eaton-Robb â€” https://twitter.com/peatonrobb

___

PARTY ON: Once out of the starting town of Hopkinton, security appeared no stiffer than in past years. The traditional party atmosphere was in full force.

Loud music blared from a pair of tree-mounted speakers. Up the road, a string band played. Fans hauled coolers, beach chairs, strollers, even grills to the yards and driveways along the course.

The wall of sound that is Wellesley College was in full throat, with hundreds of students screaming loudly enough to be heard a quarter of a mile away.